A study was carried out in order to establish
which foods are taken by the kea (Nestor notabilis). Published and unpublished literature was reviewed, and fieldwork was
carried out at Craigieburn Forest Park for ten days during the
period February - July 1987. Observations made at Craigieburn were backed up by observations from several other areas, made
over 27 days during the period December 1986 - August 1987. A
total of 27 feeding sessions was observed and both foods taken
and feeding behaviour were recorded.
From published and unpublished literature and
field observations, a total of 89 species of plants and nine
species of animal were identified as food sources for the kea in
the wild. For both plant and animal foods there were a number of
instances where only the genus was recorded, so that the total
number of species taken may be as high as 110 and 12 respectively. It was found that the diet of the kea is largely
vegetarian (70.5 % of the food items taken at Craigieburn were
plant material).
It was not determined if the foods taken by keas
reflected preference or availability. Some foods taken were only
seasonally available (berries, flowers, nectar, leafbuds). The
importance of the same plant species as a foodsource for the kea
varied with different localities. Observations on habitat use
suggested that the movement of the kea between the forest and
areas above the bushline was a function of food availability.[Show full abstract]
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